Rheumatological manifestation of diabetes: “Namaste” sign

Abstract

In addition to the well-known complications such as neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, diabetes mellitus can also result in a variety of rheumatologic manifestations, some of which can significantly affect a patient's quality of life. Diabetic cheiroarthropathy (DCA), which affects the hands clinically, manifests as painless limited extension of the proximal metacarpophalangeal joints and/or interphalangeal joints with spontaneous flexion of the fingers. There is decreased ability to fully flex or fully extend the fingers. This is the so-called “Namaste” or “Prayer” sign. This sign gives an indication of metabolic control of diabetes and microvascular disease. We hereby report a middle-age male patient admitted for fever and was incidentally found positive for this sign. Fundoscopy revealed nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy and there was microalbuminuria. The diagnosis is mainly clinical. It is imperative for clinicians to remember that the presence of DCA carries with it a significant relationship with microvasculopathy.

Keywords

• Diabetic joint disorder
• diabetic stiff hand
• hands in diabetes